Obituary of Cleota M. Studt

Cleo (Cleota Mary Slezak) Studt, dies at age 98 on June 14, 2022, at Crestview Nursing Home in West Branch. She was born January 22, 1924, to Joseph and Ota Mae Slezak (nee Potter) in Oxford, Iowa, the youngest of five children. Growing up in Iowa City, Cleo graduated from Iowa City High School in 1942. In 1943 she began working at Montgomery Ward where she remained for the next 38 years retiring from the catalog department when the store closed in 1981. On November 3, 1940, Cleo married Clarence J. Studt. They had one son, Steven. Much of Cleo’s social life centered around Clarence, who played guitar in the Iowa Rangers dance band for over 40 years. Cleo had many interests including dancing, cooking, baking (especially angel food cakes and kolaches), needlepoint, embroidery, and quilting. She was a longtime member of the Women of the Moose and “Academy of Friendship,” an Eagles trustee, a charter member of REAC and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Cleo delighted in her church activities at First United Methodist Church including the UMW and the chimers. Also, she was a poll worker for over 20 years. Cleo was preceded in death by Clarence, her husband of 51 years, all her siblings and her longtime companion, Charles Funk. She is survived by her son, Steven (Ruth Anne), two grandsons, Mark (Wendy) and Karl (Becky), and two great grandsons, Gabriel Studt and Felix Studt. Services will be held on Friday June 24, 2022. Visitation beginning at 10:00 AM; with a Service at 11:00 AM at Gay and Ciha Funeral Home, (2720 Muscatine Ave., Iowa City, IA 52240).